American Whiskey - Bourbon

Rating Information

Rating Description

Tier 1This is a Tier 1 score in the Whiskey category. It means the spirit has won the highest recommendation at least once and probably many times.

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Proof66 Notes

Wild Turkey Kentuck Spirit 101 bourbon is a single barrel bourbon, meaning that it is taken unblended and uncut straight from the cask ("101" being a reference to its relatively high proof). Jimmy Russell--master distiller--personally selects the barrel.

Wild Turkey got its name in 1940 when Thomas McCarthy (then executive of Austin Nichols) pulled a bottle of bourbon from his warehouse for an annual wild turkey hunt... the next year, they requested "that wild turkey bourbon!"

Austin Nichols Distilling Company was originally a distillery in Lawrenceburg founded in 1905 by the Ripy brothers. Silent during prohibition, it re-opened and became known for Wild Turkey and Russel's Reserve whiskeys. Austin Nichols purchased the brand and distillery in 1971, who themselves were later purchased by Pernod-Ricard and re-sold to Campari in 2009.

Muncher (220)(2015-05-09)Read scollings' review and decided to do a side by side with the Rare Breed. With the bottles I have, his review isn't accurate. The Rare Breed is a bit heavier and has quite a bit more char than the Kentucky Spirit. The perception of sweetness seems equal, but if you consider that the Spirit is watered down to a lower proof the Spirit technically is more sweet. They're both fantastic, but the Kentucky Spirit is clearly the superior of the two. If I were to take components of all my favorite bourbons and piece them together, I think the result would resemble Kentucky Spirit. It has a little "muskiness" similar to Evan Williams SB (or Blanton's), a hint of a caramel like sweetness that reminds me of Buffalo Trace, and a little prickle of WT 101's rye spice and barrel char to balance everything out. I found my bottle on sale, but this stuff is great and I wouldn't argue with paying the regular going rate for it.

scollings (83)(2014-06-12)This is closer to "Rare Bird" that the ranking here suggests. Rare Bird is perhaps lighter and a bit sweeter, but otherwise the two are pretty much interchangeable. An excellent all around Bourbon which likes a single small ice cube.

Irishman (257)(2010-05-10)I had the pleasure of tasting this bourbon in Louiville last weekend. It's something that I can't jump right into and take neat, but after cutting it with a few ice cubes to chill it down and add just a bit of water, it was very good. Bit pricey in comparison, but if you're looking for something with a bit more power than you're standard bourbons and not quite enough power to light you on fire, this is a good choice.

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080432561171

721059947503

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